Wow, we're at the stage we're judging players by how they look in photos during training.
A new boards low........
Aussies have named their side:
15-9,1-8: Kellaway, Nawaqanitawase, Ikitau, Paisami, Wright, Foley, White, Slipper (c), Porecki, Ala'altoa, Frost, Neville, Holloway, Hooper, Valetini.
Rep: Fainga'a, Robertson, Tupou, Skelton, Samu, Gordon, Lolesio, Petaia.
But he also got **** all ball
In the two matches that both Baloucoune and Hansen played 80 mins, Hansen had 18 carries and Baloucoune 11. What's Hansen doing to get 60% more ball than Baloucoune?
Hansens definitely a better rover and more comfortable. makes sense given he has played 13,15 and both wings. maybe even outhalf at one stage at under 20s?
RB may have been told stick to wing. again makes sesne given he was none of the above.
Hansen and Lowe both alternating the above does seem a heady mix. but do we forgo any width/pace?
i'm a massive fan. i wouldn't have JOB ahead of him. i think RB just needs a run and to be backed. he's been unreal for Ulster. Ireland can't just ignore that type of speed.
his body language in matches and training looks different. however he's obviously an extremely relaxed individual. but yeah i'm judging his body language, his demeanor. you know they're sportspeople right, that can be a sign of things? its not like some made up thing here. Taidgh Beirne talked about the nerves and not enjoying his first few weeks and how it is currently, only yesterday. Like it could be nerves etc. he's only a newbie.
he looks less confident in an Irish shirt. he just looks less confident.
but yeah whatever you say..a new low. will you ever..
maybe he was told not to roam, unlike Hansen.
there was a moment in the SA match where Sexton went mental, cause RB didn't show for a floater. he was livid. its definitely a confidence thing in my book.
Good to see McCloskey getting his third start of the series as well.
.....
Great to see Joe McCarthy on the bench.
Delighted for Joe McCarthy getting his first cap. I think he has massive potential.
Would rather have had greater outside backs cover on the bench. Farrell seems to really like having a centre in the 23 jersey though.
Realistically the only positions not locked down by a Leinster player are 14. 4. 6. and 12
The Leinster bias makes sense in Ireland selection considering the patterns, plays and strike moves this team are working from are extremely intricate.
I still think its harsh on Baloucoune. He has something nobody in else in Irish rugby has.
Axing Baloucoune after two games is a mistake. Our backline was crying out for someone like him, with genuine pace and game breaking ability. Jimmy O'Brien and Mack Hansen isn't going to frighten any defence and the top level. It's incredibly harsh to judge him on two games where our attack just hasn't functioned at all. And it's just very short sighted. I get the "win your next game" and all that, but the World Cup is what matters, not November tests who nobody will remember in 5 years. I think Baloucoune was worth more investment.
How much time did Lowe get, after stinking up the joint in his first season? And Baloucoune gets two games where he didn't even play poorly in either.
I'm not sure balacoune has been dropped so much as JOB getting a run on the wing. No different to say Joe McCarthu coming in for Treadwell.
I don't think Balacoune was "axed" I just think that given the available players , having him would had led to an imbalance in the match day squad in terms of coverage, it's a "horses for courses" call for me.
Put it this way - if you swap JOB out and start Balacoune and keep the bench as is , who is covering 13?
And with the bench as is, an injury to a winger would require 2 changes - Ringrose moving to wing and Aki into the centre which again leaves us with two out and out 12's playing in the middle.
Why not rotate Hansen out then, and keep the balance of one playmaking winger and one fast winger?
Would you like a quota system?
It's very difficult to solve. If sexton retires next year then Crowley likely moves up the pecking order if he moves to leinster. Not because he is a leinster player but because then he develops a partnership with JGP.
If its a close call between similar players then the coach likely goes for the partnership that plays together at club level.
It makes sense but it does mean you alienate other provinces.
Apparently Mark Nawaqanitawase is exceptional in the air. Foley is not exceptional at kicking.
But maybe that factored in JOB getting the nod at 11 (and his left foot) with Hansen taking back over from Baloucoune.
You think if Ringrose has to go off JOB will go to 13, with Aki playing wing?
Some good firepower coming off the bench.
The whole cohesion thing gives us an advantage right now, but that will be gone at the World Cup when everyone has 4 months of preparation time leading up to it.
That remains to be seen, doesn't it? History shows Carberry gets into the starting shirt when fit. Crowley to me, is in the same bracket as HB! Tons of upside. I do think he will pass Carberry soon enough as Crowley looks to be a natural. I hope he does. I hoped Harry Byrne was going to make an impact but, he's been injured and has no form whatsoever to speak off.
I reckon the coaches have invested so much into Carberry that they must feel he can progress. Personally, I think both Healy and Crowley are superior 10's. Frawley was never seen as a 10 for Leinster. He was moved to center and has prospered from that. It seems they are shoehorning him into an outhalf.
If Crowley continues to impress he will get opportunities. This is where I think there's a lapse of judgement with the management. Carberry is decent and was good v Fiji. But he got 3 minutes v SA. Why Farrell is attempting to play Frawley at out half is strange, imo. They've put a lot into Carberry, are they disappointed? It's getting close to the 6nations and I would expect to see Carberry in the matchday squads. Certainly, Crowley could be in the mix and pick up more caps. If Crowley does go on a run of quality outings, then he surely will get his chance.
And your solution?
I agree honestly.
This game is probably the least important tier one game before the world cup warm ups. This is a logical game to start crowley and mccarthy imo.
Henderson is obviously not ready. That's fairly disappointing. Baloucoune has not been bad. I'm disappointed that he was dropped. I would have liked to see Treadwell get a start.
I hope Crowley gets at least 20 minutes. Having McCloskey and JGP both sides of him would help. With Europe coming up, I hope there's no injuries.
That's the one injury where we end up with two 12's.
But if Balacoune started with no JOB in the 23 then we have multiple injury scenarios where we end up with two 12's in the centre , so JOB over Balacoune affords a better coverage mix overall in my view.
Balacoune not getting the ball in space to me is a failure of the the rest of the team, not him. Why buy a Ferrari and expect it to be a good off reading vehicle? From memory he did look to get involved off his wing a number of times. I remember specifically one phase where he tracked along the line looking for an inside ball, and ended up hitting a ruck on the left wing. For whatever reason we kept attacking down Hansen's wing
I'm not really getting your argument. Aki is on the bench. You end up with two 12s on the pitch if he replaces anyone other than McCloskey.
JOB's versatility would only be seamless if you could move him around and bring on a winger to replace him.
Maybe all the players inside of him are right handed. ;-) always hard for a right winger to get the ball with all that passing off their bad side required
ah jesus come on; it's not Metro 8s rugby we're talking about and it's not the 1990's either. We're scraping the barrel for excuses on Baloucoune's lack of involvement now.
Interesting comments on Ryan and his leadership role. You'd have to think it's almost a fait accompli that he's the next Ireland captain.
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